Adjustable gas control valve



March 4, 1958 T. J. SULLIVAN ADJUSTABLE GAS CONTROL VALVE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1956 INVENTQR ATTORNEYS v m adwmm March 4, 1958 SULUVAN I 2,825,510

ADJUSTABLE GAS CONTROL VALVE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8. 1956 III. N M [II INVENTOR BY M MQ I [3% ATTORNEY$ March 4, 1958 T. J. SULLIVAN 2,825,510

ADJUSTABLE GAS CONTROL VALVE Filed May 8,4 1956 y a Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOIi ATTORNEY 5 Uniwd et$..Pafi -o 2,825,510 ADJUSTABLE GAS CONTROL VALVE Timothy J. Sullivan, Butte, Mont, assiguor to Sullivan 7 Valve and Engineering Company, Butte, Mont., a corporation of Montana Application May 8, 1956, Serial No. 583,893

2 Claims. (Cl. 236-80) This invention pertains generally to gas control valves, and more particularly to means for adjustably setting the open positions of pressure-motor controlled full-flow supply valves. This application is a continuation-inpart of my earlier application Serial No. 570,894, filed March 12,

1956, now abandoned.

An object of my invention is 'to provide adjustable stop means limiting the open positions of a single-stage full-flow valve controlling the flow of a gaseous medium from a source to a demand.

Another object of myinvention is to provide adjustable stop means on a two-stage pressure-motor valve in the,

supply main of a burner of a gas-fired boiler so that the low-fire and high-fire valve positions may be adjustably set as desired. I

A further object of my invention is to provide pressuremotor controlled full-flow valves which will automatically close upon failure of the electrical power supply. My invention also includes the provision of solenoid holding 'means for manually holding the gas supply'valve in the open position as desired.

Still another object of my invention is to provide twostage control means effective to supply gas to the'burner of a boiler or the like so as to operate the burner on lowfire when initially starting up until the'stack 'is heated and when there is less demand upon the system, and on high-fire after the system is heated up to take the peak demand and when there is a high demand upon the same, and including means for adjustably setting the low-fire and high-fire valve positions.

A further object of my invention is to relate the adjustable operation of a pressure-motor controlled gas supply valve with a secondary air supply damper soas to insure adequate air supply at all times. v

Other objects and advantages of my invention will ecorne .more apparent from a study of the following specification when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a semi-schematic view of a two-stage valve system embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an axial sectional elevation of the two-stage control valve and operating means therefor;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the two-stage control valve showing the connections of the solenoids; and

Fig. 4 is an axial sectional elevation of the invention-as applied to a single-stage full-fiow'valve.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the invention is shown in Figs. 1-3 as applied to a steam'boiler 1 equipped with a gas burner'2' fed with gas through a supply main 3'and equipped with a secondary air door 4 for controlling the admission of air thereto. The'secondany air door 4 is adjusted by a chain 5 and lever 6 in accordance with the setting of the main gas supply ,valve 7,

jhereafter described in detail. Gas is supplied to the valve 7 through pipesand the regulated flow from the'valvefi .flows, to the, burner 2 through pipe .3. Thearrangement 2 is similar to that disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,333,2l2, titled Control for Fuel Burners.

The flow of fuel through the valve 7 is controlled by pressure motors 9 and 10. The operation of the low-fire pressure motor 9 is under control of a solenoid operated three-way pilot valve 11 and the operation of the highfire pressure motor 10 is under control of a solenoid operatedthree-way pilot valve 12.

The solenoid operator of pilot valve 12 is controlled by high-fire switch 13 responsive to steam pressure in the boiler pipe 14. The control switch 13 is connected to the solenoid pilot valve 12 by wires 15 and 16 and is connected in series with stack thermostat 17 which maintains the circuit to solenoid 12 open until the stack is heated to a desired temperature with the burner operating on low-fire regardless of the demand on the system.

The solenoid operator of pilot valve 11 is controlled by a low-fire switch 18 also responsive to the steam pressure in boiler pipe14'and connected to the solenoid by wires 19 and 20. Power is supplied to the solenoid control circuits from power source 21 through step-down transformers 22 and 23.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, gas supply pressure from the valve 7 is admitted to the lower chambers 24 and 25 of pressure motors 9 and 10 respectively through tubes 26a and 26b. At four-way fitting 27 gas of the same supply pressure is admitted to the inlets 28a, 28b of the three-way solenoid valves 12 and 11 through tubes 29a and 29b. From outlets 30a and 30b of solenoid valves 12 and 11 gas may be admitted to the upper chambers 31 and 32 of fluid pressure motors 10 and 9 through tubes 33a and 33b. The solenoid valves 12 and 11 are also provided with vent outlets 34a and 34b and with vertically movable solenoid plungers 35a and 35b. If for example, solenoid 12 were energized, the plunger 35a would be drawn upwardly, closing opening 36a. The pressure in upper chamber 31 of valve 10 would then be opened to atmospheric pressure through tube 33a and vent 34a. Upon de-energization of solenoid 12, plunger 35a would drop, allowing connection between inlet 28a and outlet 30a through opening 36a. Upper chamber 31 is then connected to lower chamber 25 through tubes 33a, 29a and 26a and the pressures in both chambers will therefore be equal. Solenoid valve 11 provides similar operation between the upper and lower chambers 32, 24 of pressure motor 9.

Valve 7 is of the large-capacity full-flow valve type and has a valve member 37 adapted to cooperate with an annular seat 38 on a transverse wall 39 and is pivotally secured within the valve casing on pivot 40. Pivotally secured to valve member 37 at pivot 41 is connecting link 42 connected to vertically slidable lower stem 43. Lower stem 43 passes through diaphragm 44 which separates upper chamber 31 from lower chamber 25 and through pressure plates 45 and 46 clamped thereon and is fixed to the diaphragm and pressure plates by lock units 47 and 48 so that movement of the diaphragm 44 will be imparted to the stem 43, the connecting link 42 and the valve member 37 carried thereby.

Lower stem 43 is slidably guided within the upper portion of the casing 49 and is sealed therein by O-ring 50. As seen in Fig. 2, lower stem 43 extends through diaphragm 51, which separates upper and lower chambers 32 and 24, and through pressure plates 52 and 53 clamped thereon. Lower stem 43 is arranged to cooperate with the lower extremity of upper stem 54 which is pivotally secured at 55 to the lever 6. Lever 6 is pivoted about fixed pivot 55a and is connected at its extremity 55b through the chain 5 to the secondary air door 4, as shown in Fig. l. 1

Rigidly secured to the diaphragm 51 and pressure J i d 'w hi r he UPP EPP iQQ ts e yefik y V member 60,;

' V 56 '1 moves upwardly, the upper surface of member 55 :contaets flange-64 f stem 43 and carriesstem 43 upwardly. Diaphragm 44 and connecting link 42 are .tdits low-fireopen position.

ofth

shaft 56 which is slidably movable within sleeve, 57; The IQ-ring 58 seals the shaft 56 within sleeve 57. Sleeve th a i qn ec o s andsa ie m a t su f ee 4 i ,1. or docking p i n jus able-set n 7 Threadedly securedjiivithin the 7 se g membe 1 9 h Jh ShTfi TPQQlUSIQbIQ se t '1 m mb r; 2: ry lo klnu fii o Qck ns-its-ms t qnh o h 56 al wsw as e e h ret ou hf that the :l d i. f e fla exte s n max' nta t and 7 position; 'As-soonas the stack'he ats up sufiiciently on low-fire to close the stack switch'17," the circuit to the high-firesolenoid 12 will bejcompleted, causing valve 37s -.b 'a. h i ;by th upp -sur fl ckin .member Upper? stem 54; similarly; has a' flanged extension 65, the upper sur face of -which is arranged to contact the lowermost surface-66 of the; high-fire: adjustable setting member 62-;and thus limit fthe upward travel oft/upper stem-3 54. The upward extent of trayel ofhollow shaft .s

a s56 within,sleeve 57;is limited by the lowermost surface 67 of the low-fire'adjustable setting member;6 0.; I

, In operation the valve,;when shipped from ,th l a et o i'y .to be puton the line, is in, a. closed'position as'shown in Figs 2.: The-gas enters the valve chamber through wpipe '8 fi s the rashamb tl ri n p s s i eqs "tu e 26h, s n l rfi t e q; t e a p s amb rkfle pressure motor 10 so that egual gas pressure is onboth 'sidesof the diaphragm 44.1 Similarly the gas passesthrough tubes" z sm zsb zsb," and 33b to admit ga s t i ,chambers 24 and L32 ;of pressure motor- 91o apply-equal Qgaspressure on both sidesjot the{diaphragm51; The

valve .37 is thusmaintained inthe closed pos'itionby the gas on top of the diaphragm and against thevalve 37.

s,- under the diaphragms,

tube 33?) tojthe atmosphere. Since the pressure in lower 1 chamber '24 is greater thanthe pressure in upper. Cham- V I ber" 32, diaphragm 51' will move upwardly, carrying the hollow shaft'j56' therewith; Theupward movement of travel of shaft 56 will be'limited by, the position of the lowfire adjustable setting member 60. As hollow shaft carried upwardly, andfvalvie is pivoted. about pivot 4ft) For the high-fire open positioniof yalve 37 the solenoid ,valve 12 is energized,- -pulling. the Vplun'ger'upwardly to close the opening 36a; Upper chamb e rl31 is vented to the atmosphere through tube 33a, opening 68a, and vent 34a. 1 Since theflpressure in lower chamber is further'upwardly. As, stern 4 3 carried 'by diaphragm V 44 moves upwardly, itsupper surface 6 8.contacts the lowermost surface ofupperstem 54 andi forcesfstem 54 fupwardly until the extension fis contacts;the lowerber '62. Valve 37 willbe furtherpivotallyopened to the high-fire open position. Thus it may be seen that the amount of gas flow d'esiredjfor either high-fire'or-lowsettingmember '84 withinslefeve '83 stheeittentlof upa 'fire operation may be readily set by adjusting the posi- 53.; y l k n me ersfistand,55.;ish9 l9um. pifllsvfi l' an whi h'r lti iz itl l ety firinsa uaee generally require a complete new test'and setting when: the operation of the system istemporarilydiscontinued. 1 f Upon electric powerrfailure, the solenoid'plungers of '7 5 solenoid valves Hand 12 drop; Lines 29b, 33b;and' j 29a, 33aare connected thegpressures ingthe upperan'dfj lower'chambers 32, 24,--3l*andf25 becomeequal and is c s d Po t n :dissemie e? valve 7- drops;to admission of gas to the gas burner.-

to assumits high Of gas to the burner;

As seenvfrof ;Ei I, V are provided with :a nnechanical holding arrangement Wherebydn the event of power; failure; the solenoid plungersimaybe maintained in their-up positionsto vent the upper. chamber-sand maintain the valver37 in either I 'of-fthe open: positions 11f, vforlexample, Lsolenoid plunger a f "a of solenoid'lz" were in 'theflower' position, cap s69 gz'ij .mightbe removed, exposing the rod 70arslidably mounte'd j twithinf member flz zj in the valvejwa lli Spring72a n 'biasesrod .70to the right as shown in Fig.2., Rod 70a, .7 has an extension 73iz-with an inclinedlsurfaceadapted j i to cooperate wi'tliIthe finde'r surface 74fafof. the plunge'r surface a of extensioni73'd am the unde'ri'surf ace'l74a fof the solenoid'f plungen. 'i'l' he. vextension"73a has} catch 7 5d whichengagesunder'surfacefl lzi, .holding rthelrdd" in engagement with fthe.-rplunger iuponarelease o "the j ,manual insertiongpressurefi Tube}' 33a'.;wonld?be;con- 'nected with vent 34a,:diaphragm,s44 wouldfbe upper position, fand thevalve .37 would;be inthehi fire openfpo'sitiohilfUpon reapplicatibh otte ecnic'ai power to the solenoid valve 12, 1theFplu'nger 35511 drawn [surface 74a, allowing the spring "72d to, autom return th'e'rod 70a to'its normal position. a, Referring now to Fig. 4 ,J a' single stagev r as shown in Fig. 4, valve member 81 is in its'closd a the valve member 81zis inits open "position; 7: 'Securedtojtheiupper' portion-of the pressure of valve stem 77 therein. O-ring ,85a in the s'leeve' 8 3 -;ser.vesto sealthe valve stem 77 and 'to prevent evacua p "'tion ofrthe pressure motor. The valve'stem 77'is pro- I most surface 66 of the high-fire adjustable setting memesvvided with an'entensio'n' 8 5:ada-pted'to cooperateiwithfthe" 7 gunder surface-860i adjustable settingmember fi: j

- itgmayi be seen from Fig. 4 a that by verticallyadjusting T .ward travel of stem '77jmay be limited, and eo ns equently tions of the low-fire adjustable setting mernber 60and '70,,the extent of opening iofivalye member 81 is likewise the high-fire adjustable setting member 62 This type position with the lock nuts 61, 63, which adju'stmentis' noteffected during system shut; down, --:Ihe advantages 7 r I a limited. Secured to the upper extremitylof'valvestetin r 7 .ofintegral valve adjustment may be set-and locked into 77 is lever; arni 77a -pivoted about pivot. point. 776

e fsecon'daryi air door 4 pt 1 "provides control means to th 7 Fig, l'by means of the chainS.

isintegral unit ar'e'obvious. over thecont'ro1 valves 75 'Tlieope'ratidn or arepressure.note?nimioiiei lied ,to' .thefsyjstem V and valve 7:"is fully"clos'ed,-theupressureTresponsiv switches 13 and 18 will be closed dueto the lackof boiler; pressure," However, because j stack, switch, 17 is a open, solenoid 12 will ilot be energized; Solenoid 11 -lir'efopen position andadmitfull new I 2,. -the three-way solenoid valves 7 35p. ,Thus upon manual. movement ofthe rcd570q t'o the left against vthispringgbias, plunger 35a isrnoved upwardly. clue to the cooperation between the inclined "upwardly slightly disengaging the catch 75a from plunger afiq i Y alv'eisdisi closed having diaphragm 76 with valve stem '77Jsecured 'therethrou'gh by means'of the locki'nutsl78 andthpres 7 sure plates 79. Connectinglink 80 secured tothe'jlower extremity of valvestein-77 is secured to' 'valvemember .7 i3 81' so that whendiaphragm 76 is in its lowerposition 7 .zmotor casing 82 is a sleeve 83 havinga threadedeinterior'bore. g

'Threadablyfmovablewithin thesleeve; 83"is adjustable thus greater than upper chamber 31, diaphragm 44 moves 60 setting 'mernber 84. Setting-members has a hollow LJborejhe rethrough to permit vertical sliding movement by solenoid valve 37 having a line '88 connected to the upper pressure motor chamber 89 and a line 90 connected to the lower pressure motor chamber 91. Energization of the solenoid valve will cause line 88 to be connected to vent line 92 with the result that the pressure in lower chamber 91 is greater than the pressure in upper chamber 89. Diaphragm 76 then moves upwardly until extension 85 contacts lower surface 86 of adjustable setting member 84. Valve member 81 is thus moved to its open position.

Failure of electrical power supplied to solenoid valve 87 will result in the connection of lines 88 and 90 to equalize the pressures in upper chamber 89 and lower chamber 91 and to allow diaphragm 76 to drop and valve member 81 to close. The solenoid valve 87 is provided with the solenoid holding means 88 described above.

Thus it is apparent that my invention provides adjustable stop means for controlling the open positions of a pressure-motor controlled full-flow valve, and that my invention is equally applicable for single or plural stage units.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes I have illustrated and described the best form of embodiment of my invention known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus described without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Control means for regulating the supply of gas in a supply main to a gas-fired vessel comprising a valve in said supply main having a valve casing divided into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber by a partition provided with a valve seat and having a valve member in said inlet chamber cooperating with said valve seat, a high-fire pressure motor having a casing with a movable diaphragm therein, means connecting said movable high-fire diaphragm to said valve member comprising a connecting link connected at one end to said diaphragm and at the other end to said valve member whereby said high-fire diaphragm is operable by gas pressure to move said valve member to a fully open high-fire position, a low-fire pressure motor having a casing with a movable diaphragm therein, means connecting said movable lowfire diaphragm to said valve member whereby said lowfire diaphragm is operable by gas pressure to move said valve member to a partially-open low-fire position, said low-fire diaphragm connecting means comprising a sleeve extending through and secured to the casing of said lowfire pressure motor, a hollow shaft secured to said lowfire diaphragm and slidably arranged within said sleeve, a lower stem secured to said high-fire diaphragm and slidably extending through said pressure motor casings and said low-fire diaphragm and terminating within said hollow shaft, said lower stem having a flanged extension at its upper extremity within said hollow shaft whereby it may be carried upwardly by upward movement of said low-fire diaphragm and thereby position said valve memher in its low-fire position by means of said connecting link means for adjustably limiting the opening of said valve member in said low-fire and high-fire positions, and means for independently controlling the operation of said low-fire pressure motor to partially open said valve in response to a low demand for heat and to efiect operation of said high-fire pressure motor to fully open said valve in response to 'high demand for heat.

2. Control means as defined in claim 1, wherein said adjustable limiting means comprise an upper stem slidably extending through said sleeve in said low-fire motor casing and terminating within said hollow shaft, said upper and lower stems being arranged in abutting cooperation, a flanged extension on said upper stem intermediate its ends within said sleeve, a low-fire setting member adjustably secured within said sleeve for ad justably limiting the upward extent of travel of said hollow shaft within said sleeve, and a high-fire setting member adjustably secured within said low-fire setting member cooperating with said flanged extension on said upper stem to adjustahly limit the upward extent of travel of said upper stem within said sleeve, whereby the low-fire and high-fire open positions of said valve member may be adjustably determined as desired.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,975,656 Irvin Oct. 2, 1934 2,328,279 Jones Aug. 31, 1943 2,333,212 Sullivan Nov. 2, 1943 2,532,847 Junkin Dec. 5, 1950 2,630,831 Arnold Mar. 10, 1953 

